William J. Stellmach

• FCPA – Chambers Global (2026)
• Recognized as a Leading Global Investigations Lawyer, Leading Global Litigator, Leading Lawyer in America, and Leading Litigator in America in the areas of White Collar, Investigations, and Enforcement – Lawdragon (2026)
• Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations – Chambers USA (2022-2026)
  
• FCPA – Chambers USA (2025-2026)
• Recognized as Thought Leader: Global Elite in the area of Investigations – Who’s Who Legal (2023)
• Willkie Wins Top Honors at GIR Awards 2020
• Recommended by The Legal 500 U.S. in Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense (2023-2026)
• Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (2014)
• Attorney General’s John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation (2013)
• Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service (2013)
• Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service (2012)

Bill has authored the following publications and served as a keynote speaker and panelist at various forums addressing trends and significant developments in U.S. regulatory and criminal law enforcement. His publications and appearances include:

• Moderator, "Fireside Chat with Scott Schools, OpenAI," New York Forum on Global Anti-Corruption, Ethics, and Compliance, June 4, 2026
• Panelist, “Anticorruption: Global trends and Regional Realities,” Kinstellar Compliance Day 2025, Prague, October 15, 2025.
• Panelist, “Crisis & Compliance: Navigating Bribery, Sanctions, and Cross-Border Risk,” American Slovakian Chamber of Commerce, Bratislava, October 17, 2025.
• Panelist, “Trump Administration Priorities in White Collar Cases,” NACDL 2025 White Collar Seminar & Fall Board Meeting, September 19, 2025
• Instructor, “Recent Developments in Ethics and Anti-Bribery Compliance,” Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law’s Short Course on International Oil & Gas Law, Contracts, and Negotiations (Houston, TX), September 27, 2024
• Featured, “Short seller reports on the rise, flexible crisis plan critical: William J Stellmach,” The Economic Times, July 19, 2024.
• Panelist, “Whistleblowers: US Regulatory Trends and Best Practices,” Webinar, July 18, 2024
• Panelist, “Short and Distort: Understanding and Responding to Short-Seller Reports,” Webinar, June 20, 2024
• Keynote Speaker and Panelist, 14th Asia Anti-Corruption Compliance Summit, “Recent Trends and Investigations in FCPA Enforcement,” Singapore, April 24, 2024
• Panelist, “Investigations in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” Le Club des Juristes, January 18, 2024
• Panelist, “Whistleblowers: US and EU Trends and Best Practices,” Webinar, December 13, 2023
• Panelist, “Investigations in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” Webinar, December 7, 2023
• Co-author, “California’s Comprehensive Climate Accountability Regime: Setting an Aggressive New National Standard,” the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, November 25, 2023
• Panelist, “Managing Crisis and Preparing for the Unexpected,” Institute of Directors India, October 27, 2023
• Panelist, “Conducting an Effective Internal Investigation and Avoiding Common Pitfalls,” Webinar, October 26, 2023
• Panelist, “Ephemeral Messaging, Tangible Costs: The DOJ, SEC, and CFTC Crackdown on Off-Channel Communications,” Webinar, June 21, 2023
• Panelist, “How the U.S. Shapes Investigations in Europe,” Webinar, May 23, 2023
• Panelist, "ESG Update:  Assessing the Landscape in 2023," Webinar, March 23, 2023
• Panelist, "Private Equity Enforcement Trends," Webinar, March 2, 2023
• Panelist, "Attorney-Client Privilege and Secrecy in Transatlantic Investigations: A Comparative Regime Approach, Part 2," Webinar, September 21, 2022.
• Panelist, "Attorney-Client Privilege and Secrecy in Transatlantic Investigations: A Comparative Regime Approach, Part 1," Webinar, September 14, 2022.
• Commentator, EY Global Integrity Report, 2022.
• Co-author, "The SEC and Messaging Apps," the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, June 15, 2022.
• Panelist, "The SEC’s Emerging Agenda: Enforcement, Examination and Rulemaking Priorities," Webinar, January 20, 2022.
• Panelist, "Deconstructing Forensic Audits and Internal Investigations from a Corporate Governance Perspective," FICCI, August 24, 2021.
• Co-author, “Nasdaq Proposed Rules Promote Board Diversity: What Businesses Need to Know,” Bloomberg Law, March 2, 2021.
• Featured, “Health care ranks second on list of FCPA enforcement actions by SEC,” BioWorld, December 29, 2020.
• Panelist, “FTC and SEC Litigation, Enforcement and Application to FDA Authorities,” Food & Drug Law Institute: Enforcement, Litigation and Compliance Conference, December 16, 2020.
• Co-author, "Protecting Attorney-Client Privilege and Work-Product Doctrine in Internal Investigations,” American Bar Association: Pretrial Practice & Discovery Practice Points, October 26, 2020.
• Presenter, "Whistleblowing and corporate compliance programs post COVID-19" Webinar, August 13, 2020.
• Presenter, "Global Regulatory and Enforcement Developments In The New Normal" Webinar, August 4, 2020.
• Keynote speaker and Panelist, EY India Virtual Forum, “Beyond COVID-19: Re-Examining Bribery Risks and Sanctions Violations from an Indian and U.S. Perspective,” August 2020.
• Speaker, Privilege Pointers: Protecting Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product in Internal Investigations," Webinar, August 18, 2020.
• Speaker, "Recent Trends and Developments in U.S. Enforcement Activities Affecting Brazil," Webinar, June 24, 2020.
• Co-author, “How Public Companies Can Minimize Risks Resulting From a Post-COVID-19 Focus on ESG Issues: Part I,” Corporate Counsel, May 15, 2020.
• Co-author, “How Public Companies Can Minimize Risks Resulting From a Post-COVID-19 Focus on ESG Issues: Part II,” Corporate Counsel, May 19, 2020.
• Presenter, “India in Focus: Bribery & Sanctions” Webinar, February 13, 2020.
• Presenter, “India in Focus Part II: Whistleblower Protection & Compliance Programs” Webinar, April 14, 2020.
• Presenter, “India in Focus Part III: Compliance Programs” Webinar, April 30, 2020.
• Keynote Speaker and Panelist, Evolving Regulatory Frameworks and their Impact on Business, Ernst & Young Roundtable, New Delhi, India, November 4, 2019.
• Moderator, Is Mexico moving towards a Level Playing Field? Compliance & Anti-Corruption Framework in Local and Cross-Border Business? United States – Mexico Chamber of Commerce, New York, February 28, 2019.
• Panelist and Presenter, Enforcement Trends in FCPA and Global Anticorruption Investigations and Navigating U.S. Sanctions, Mumbai Corporate Compliance Seminar: Anti-Corruption and Third-Party Risk Management, February 19, 2019.
• Moderator, US-Andean Investigations and Enforcement Cooperation, Andean Summit on Anti-corruption and Compliance, Bogota, December 2015.
• Panelist, FCPA, SEC/DOJ Joint Actions, and Other Criminal Enforcement Trends, Securities Enforcement Forum, Washington, November 2015.
• Keynote Speaker, Emerging Trends in U.S. Cross Border Investigations, U.S. Litigation Forum, Seoul, October 2015.
• Panelist, U.S. Prosecutors Discuss Compliance and Internal Controls Expectations. 9th Annual International Conference on Anticorruption, London, July 2015.

Bill has drawn on this depth and breadth of experience to build a reputation as an innovative problem solver and a skilled negotiator. He is particularly known for managing investigations effectively and containing enforcement risk before it escalates.

• Served as Co-Monitor for the Bank of Nova Scotia in unique, dual monitorships imposed by the DOJ and the CFTC, evaluating remediation of the bank’s compliance program following criminal and regulatory resolutions for alleged trading misconduct.
• Represented a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles diesel manager in a criminal fraud case brought by the DOJ, which had previously obtained guilty pleas from both the carmaker and a senior executive. Successfully contested extradition and then obtained dismissal of all charges against the client, including removal of EPA administrative suspensions.
• Represented the Executive Chamber of the State of New York in multiple investigations by the State Legislature, the New York Attorney General, and other state and federal authorities following a change in gubernatorial leadership.
• Advocated successfully for a presidential pardon of an international banker charged by DOJ with multiple counts of bribery, resulting in dismissal of all charges.
• Represented a New York-based broker-dealer and its management in an SEC and U.S. Attorney’s Office (SDNY) investigation into alleged inflation of MBS valuations by more than $100 million. Obtained a declination from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and negotiated a favorable, non-fraud resolution with the SEC, avoiding financial penalties or bars.
• Represented the co-founder of the largest international cryptocurrency exchange platform in multiple investigations by the DOJ (Criminal Division), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the SDNY, the CFTC, the SEC, and the New York Attorney General, avoiding any charges or other penalties.
• Defended CareDx, Inc., a diagnostic solutions company for transplant patients, in government investigations regarding Medicaid reimbursement practices. Persuaded DOJ not to intervene in a False Claims Act action and obtained a declination from the SEC; the relator subsequently dismissed the qui tam case.
• Negotiated the resolution of a novel Helms-Burton lawsuit against one of the world’s leading building materials suppliers for alleged violations of U.S. sanctions, enabling continued operation of its Cuban facility and avoiding any OFAC penalties.
• Represented a Fortune 500 manufacturing company in an FCPA investigation focused on gifts, travel, and entertainment practices in the construction of Middle East facilities, resulting in declinations from both the SEC and the DOJ.